Quick action coupling

ABSTRACT

A quick action coupling including a coupling body and a coupling nipple connectable with either of a pair of hoses or the like, the coupling body comprising a coupling sleeve in which the coupling nipple is introducible to a sealing position. In the wall of the coupling sleeve there are formed radially extending, through openings in which locking balls are radially movable. At the outer surface of the coupling sleeve there is provided a locking sleeve which is axially movable to lock and release the locking balls. The through openings in which the locking balls are positioned are slot-shaped to allow that the locking balls are displaced away from the position in which they are locked by the locking sleeve without requiring manipulation of the locking sleeve.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a quick action coupling including twocoupling members each connectable with either of a pair of hoses or thelike.

BACKGROUND ART

A prior art quick action coupling of this kind includes a coupling bodyand a coupling nipple, the coupling body comprising a coupling sleeve inwhich the coupling nipple is introducable to a sealing position. Thewall of the coupling nipple is formed with radially extending throughopening in which locking balls are radially movable between a lockingposition and a releasing position. In the locking position the ballsproject inside the inner surface of the wall of the coupling sleeve, andwhen the coupling nipple takes it sealing position in the couplingsleeve the locking balls engage a complementary recess in the couplingnipple so as to lock the nipple in the sealing position. In thereleasing position the locking balls are positioned radially outside thelocking position in which the balls engage the recess of the couplingnipple so as to allow that the coupling nipple is introduced into andwithdrawn from the coupling sleeve. A locking sleeve is provided at theouter surface of the wall of the coupling sleeve and is axiallydisplaceable between a locking position in which an inner lockingsurface of the locking sleeve engages the locking balls so as to retainthe balls in the locking position, and a position in which the lockingsurface of the locking sleeve is at a distance from the locking balls soas to allow the balls to move radially outwards to the releasingposition.

In this prior art quick action coupling it is necessary to manuallydisplace the locking sleeve to the position in which the locking surfaceof the locking sleeve is at a distance from the locking balls, when thecoupling nipple is introduced into the coupling sleeve as well as whenthe coupling nipple is withdrawn therefrom. Especially at theintroduction of the coupling nipple into the coupling sleeve this is asubstantial drawback as it is necessary concurrently to manipulate thecoupling sleeve as well as to position the coupling nipple opposite tothe opening of the coupling sleeve which is difficult to conduct bymeans of one hand and often requires that both hands are used.

In order to overcome this drawback and provide a quick action couplingin which the coupling nipple can be introduced into the coupling sleevewithout manipulation of the locking sleeve it has been suggested to formthe through openings of the coupling sleeve as slot-shaped openings.Thereby the slot-shaped openings extend in the longitudinal direction ofthe coupling sleeve and are of such extension in relation to theextension of the locking surface of the locking sleeve that the ballsare adapted at the introduction of the coupling nipple into the couplingsleeve, while being affected by the nipple, and without axialdisplacement of the locking sleeve, to be displaced in the longitudinaldirection of the slot-shaped openings away from an engagement with thelocking surface of the locking sleeve, so as to allow the introductionof the nipple into the position in which the locking balls engage therecess of the nipple. The locking balls and also the locking sleeve arespring loaded towards the locking position.

In a quick action coupling of this kind the connection of the couplingbody with the coupling nipple is simply conducted by forcing thecoupling nipple into the coupling sleeve, the locking balls beingthereby displaced in the slot-shaped openings to the position in whichthe balls are radially outside the locking position in which the ballsengage the recess of the coupling nipple, while the locking balls moveinto the recess to take the locking position when the nipple has arrivedto the position in which the recess of the nipple is opposite to theballs, and thereby the connection between the coupling nipple and thecoupling sleeve has been completed.

A drawback of these prior art quick action couplings of this kind isthat they are of a complicated construction for which reason they arecostly and inclined to functional disorders.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to overcome the drawback and toprovide a quick action coupling of the kind set forth which is of asimple construction and thereby is more economic and reliable.

In order to achieve this object the quick action coupling according tothe invention is characterized in that the locking balls and the lockingsleeve are loaded by means of the same spring.

It is preferred that the locking balls and the locking sleeve arespring-loaded towards their locking positions by means of a support ringengaging the locking balls and the locking sleeve and loaded by thespring and that the support ring is axially displaceable in relation tothe coupling sleeve while sliding along cylindrical engagement surfaceshaving at least two different diameters. Preferably the support ring isconstituted by a cylindrical wall having at one edge a radiallythickened portion forming a peripheral projection extending radiallyinwards and a peripheral projection extending radially outwards, theprojection extending radially inwards engaging the locking balls andforming one of the cylindrical engagement surfaces and the projectionextending radially outwards engaging the locking sleeve and forming anengagement surface for the spring.

The present invention is described in the following in more detail withreference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an axial section of an embodiment of a quick action couplingaccording to the invention prior the connection of the member of thecouplings with each other.

FIG. 2 is a section corresponding to FIG. 1 during the assembling of thecoupling members.

FIG. 3 is a section corresponding to FIGS. 1 and 2 after the couplingmembers have been assembled.

FIG. 4 is a section corresponding to FIGS. 1-3 in a position in whichthe coupling members are disassemblable.

FIG. 5 is a section corresponding to FIGS. 1-3 in a position in whichthe coupling members are disassemblable.

FIG. 5 is a section of a detail of a modified embodiment of a quickaction coupling according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The quick action coupling according to the present invention and shownin FIG. 1-4 is intended for connecting a hose 2 with a hose 4. The quickaction coupling comprises two coupling members, namely a coupling body 6and a coupling nipple 8. The coupling members 6 and 8 each have aconnection piece 10 and 12, respectively, to which the hoses 2 and 4 areconnected by means of hose locks 14 and 16.

The coupling body 6 comprises a coupling sleeve 18 of a substantiallycylindrical shape. In the wall of the coupling sleeve 18 there areprovided a number of openings 20 extending radially through the wall. Ineach opening 20 there is positioned a locking ball 22, and the openings20 are so formed in relation to the locking balls 22 that the lockingballs 20 are displaceable radially as well as axially. The radialmovement takes place between an inner locking position in which theballs extend somewhat inside the inner surface of the coupling sleeve 18and an outer releasing position in which the balls are positionedsubstantially outside the inner surface of the coupling sleeve 18.

At the outer surface of the coupling sleeve 18 there is provided alocking sleeve 24 having an inwardly directed, annular locking surface26 adapted to cooperate with the locking balls. Between the outersurface of the coupling sleeve 18 and the inner surface of the lockingsleeve 24 there is provided a helical spring 28 by means of which thelocking balls 22 as well as the locking sleeve 24 are loaded in adirection downwards int eh figures, that is towards the position takenby the locking balls 22 and the locking sleeve 24 in, for example,FIG. 1. It appears that the locking balls 22 are in this positionlocked, by the locking surface 26 of the locking sleeve 24, in theirlocking position in which the balls extend inside the inner surface ofthe coupling sleeve 18. It is realized that a position in which thelocking balls 22 can be displaced radially outwards to the releasingposition in which the locking balls are substantially outside the innersurface of the coupling sleeve 18 can be achieved in two ways. It can bedone either by displacing the balls 22 upwardly in the slot-shapedopenings 20 to a position above the locking surface 26 of the lockingsleeve 24 or by displacing the locking sleeve 24 upwardly to a positionin which the locking surface 26 is positioned above the locking balls22. The displacement of the locking balls 22 as well as the displacementof the locking sleeve 24 take place against the action of the spring 28.

In the coupling sleeve 18 there is positioned an O-ring 30 adapted toseal the coupling sleeve 18 in relation to the coupling nipple 8introduced into the coupling sleeve. The coupling nipple 8 has an outerdiameter which substantially corresponds to the inner diameter of thecoupling sleeve 18 and allows for introducing the coupling nipple 98into the coupling sleeve 18. The coupling nipple 8 has a recess formedas an annular groove 32 having a cross section which is arc-shaped orthe like. The balls 22 are adapted to engage this groove 32 when thenipple 8 has been introduced into the coupling sleeve 18.

FIG. 2 illustrates the introduction of the coupling nipple 8 into thecoupling sleeve 18. It appears that the coupling nipple 8 displaces thelocking balls 22 in the slot-shaped openings 20 upwardly against theaction of the spring 28, when the nipple is introduced into the couplingsleeve 18, the locking balls 22 being thereby displaced away from theengagement with the locking surface 26 of the locking sleeve 24. Whenthe locking balls 22 leave their engagement with the locking surface 26they can, as described above, more radially outwards to a position inwhich they are outside the inner surface of the coupling sleeve 18 andthereby do not obstruct the introduction of the coupling nipple 8.

When the coupling nipple 8 has been introduced into the position shownin FIG. 3, wherein the coupling nipple 8 sealingly engages the O-ring 30in the coupling sleeve 18 and the locking balls 22 are positionedopposite to the groove 32 in the coupling nipple 8, the locking balls 22can be returned to the position shown in FIG. 1 by the spring 28, thelocking balls 22 thereby engaging the groove 32 and locking the couplingnipple 8 with regard to withdrawal from he coupling sleeve 18.

Thus, it appears that the connection of the coupling nipple 8 with thecoupling body 6 is conducted by one simple manipulation by introducingthe coupling nipple 8 into the coupling sleeve 18. There is not requiredany additional manipulation of the quick action coupling to provide thedesired connection of the hoses 2 and 4 with each other.

When the coupling nipple 8 is withdrawn from the coupling body 6, thelocking sleeve 24 is, as shown in FIG. 4, displaced upwardly against theaction of the spring 28 to the position, in which the locking surface 26is positioned above the locking balls 22. In this position the couplingnipple 8 can be withdrawn from the coupling sleeve 18, the balls beingthereby displaced radially outwards to a position in which the balls areoutside the inner surface of the coupling sleeve 18, when the couplingnipple is withdrawn. Thereby the engagement of the locking balls 22 inthe groove 32 is ceased and the coupling nipple 8 can withoutobstruction be withdrawn from the coupling sleeve 18. When the lockingsleeve 24 is then released, the spring 28 returns the locking sleeve 24to the position shown in FIG. 1 which has thus been reestablished.

In FIG. 5 there is shown a section of a portion of a modified embodimentof the quick action coupling according to the invention. Also thisembodiment of the quick action coupling is intended for connecting twohoses with each other and comprises two coupling members, a couplingbody and a coupling nipple. In FIG. 5 there is shown a portion of thecoupling body of the quick action coupling, the coupling nipple of theembodiment according to FIG. 5 being of the same design as the couplingnipple according to FIGS. 1-4.

The coupling body of the embodiment according to FIG. 5 comprises acoupling sleeve 18a of a substantially cylindrical shape. In the wall ofthe coupling sleeve 18a there are provided a number of openings 20aextending radially through the wall. In each opening 20a there isarranged a locking ball 22a, and the openings 20a are formed in relationto the locking balls 22a, such that the locking balls 22a aredisplaceable radially as well as axially. Thus, so far there is acomplete correspondence between the embodiment according to

FIGS. 1-4 and the embodiment according to FIG. 5. In the embodimentaccording to FIG. 5 there is a locking sleeve 24a positioned at theouter surface of the coupling sleeve 18a and having an inwardlydirected, annular locking surface 26a adapted to cooperate with thelocking balls.

Between the outer surface of the coupling sleeve 18a and the innersurface of the locking sleeve 24a there is provided a support ring 34consisting of a cylindrical wall 36 having at one edge a radiallythickened portion forming a radially inwards directed, annularprojection 38 and a radially outwards directed, annular projection 40.

The support ring 34 is engaged by a helical spring 42 which is tensionedbetween the outwardly extending projection 40 on the support ring 34 andan opposite surface 44 on the coupling sleeve 18a. Thus, the spring 42acts for displacing the support ring 34 downwards according to FIG. 5.The force of the spring 42 is transferred to the locking balls 22a andthe locking sleeve 24a through the support ring 34 by the engagement ofthe inwardly directed projection 38 with the locking balls 22a and theengagement of the outwardly directed projection 40 with the lockingsleeve 24a. Thus, the locking balls 22a are like the balls of theembodiment according to FIGS. 1-4 spring-loaded in the direction of thelocking position and the locking sleeve 24a is also spring-loaded in thedirection of the locking position.

The support ring 34 is axially displaceable in relation to the couplingsleeve 18a and the locking sleeve 24a along cylindrical sliding surfaces46, 48 and 50. Because of the fact that the support ring 34 and thecoupling sleeve 18a engage each other along the sliding surfaces 46 and48 which have different diameters the support ring is prevented fromharshing and there is provided a guarantee for a secure operation of theballs as well as the locking sleeve.

It is realized that otherwise this embodiment of the quick actioncoupling according to the invention has the same function as the quickaction coupling according to FIGS. 1-4 and that the difference withrespect to the embodiment according to FIGS. 1-4 is in all essentialsrepresented only by the existence of the support ring 34.

I claim:
 1. A quick action coupling comprising:a coupling body and acoupling nipple, each connectable with either of a pair of hoses; saidcoupling body including a coupling sleeve adapted for receiving saidcoupling nipple therein, said coupling sleeve being provided withslot-shaped through openings radially extending through the wall thereofand having a predetermined length in the longitudinal direction of saidcoupling sleeve, locking balls positioned in said openings and radiallymovable between (a) an inner locking position in which said balls extendsubstantially inside the inner surface of the wall of said couplingsleeve and each engage a recess in said coupling nipple so as to locksaid nipple in the sealing position in said coupling sleeve and (b) anouter releasing position in which said balls extend into saidslot-shaped openings beyond the inner surface of said coupling sleeve tofacilitate insertion and withdrawal of said nipple into and from saidcoupling body; a locking sleeve inserted over the outer surface of saidcoupling sleeve and having an inwardly extending annular locking surfaceadapted to cooperate with said locking balls, said locking sleeve beingaxially movable along said outer surface of said coupling sleeve betweena first locking position in which said locking surface engages saidlocking balls and a second position in which said locking surface is ata distance from said locking balls allowing for their radially outwardmovement into said releasing position in said slot-shaped openings,wherein said predetermined length of said slot-shaped openings is soselected with respect to said annular locking surface of said lockingsleeve such that an insertion of said nipple into said coupling bodyeffects axial displacement of said balls within said openings away froman engagement with said locking surface without axial displacement ofsaid locking sleeve, a support ring including a first portion and asecond, base portion defining a radially inwardly projecting annularpart and a radially outwardly projecting annular part, said support ringbeing provided in a space formed between said coupling sleeve and saidlocking sleeve; said support ring being axially displaceable withrespect to said coupling sleeve by sliding along at least two slidingengagement surfaces of said ring having different diameters, one of saidsliding surfaces being defined by an inner surface of said first portionand said second sliding surface being defined by an inner edge surfaceof said inwardly projecting annular part, said first and second slidingsurfaces being in guiding engagement with said coupling body, and acommon spring means positioned also in said space and confined betweensaid outwardly projecting part and a surface of said coupling sleeve forinfluencing said locking balls and said locking sleeve through saidsupport ring towards their locking position.
 2. A quick action couplingaccording to claim 1, wherein said first portion of said support ringincludes a cylindrical wall and said base portion includes a flangelocated at the bottom edge of said first position to form said inwardlyand outwardly projecting parts.
 3. A quick action coupling according toclaim 1, wherein an upper surface of said outwardly extending projectiondefines an engagement surface of said spring means.
 4. A quick actioncoupling according to claim 3, wherein the outer edge surface of saidoutwardly extending projection defines a sliding surface being in aguiding engagement with said locking sleeve.